Interrupter.



C. .HARTMANN.

INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I l, 1913.

1,149,980. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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W/TNE88E8: INVENTOR ATTOR 5m UNITED STATES cam. EARTMANN, or LANCASTER, NEWVYORK, assmnon 'ro eounn comma, i

PATENT OFFICE;

COMPANY, A GORPORATIQN OF NEW YORK.

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Application filed June 11,

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interrupters, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to interrupters such as are used in ignition systems in connection with gas engines and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an interrupter which is not only simple and eflicient in operation and construction, but in which the contacts separate with a maximum velocity, whereby less arcing at the contacts and a hotter spark are obtained.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which shows a device embodying my improvements in one form.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a suitable fixed casing through which extends a rotating shaft 2 carrying rigidly therewith a cam 3 having two-cam faces 4 and 5 thereon. Carried rigid with the casing 1 is'a member 6 carrying binding posts 7 and 8. The member 6 also carries contacts 9 and 10 which are electrically connected to the binding posts 7 and 8 but otherwise insulated from the parts. Pivoted at 11 and- 12 respectively, are two bell crank levers 13 and 14 carrying on one of their arms contacts 15 and 16, which are adapted to engage respectively, the contacts 9 and 10, between which the electrical circuits are interru ted. The frame 1 also carries a.mem her 1 which. has integrally formed therewith stationary guide members 18 and 19 having guide faces 20 and 21 respectively,

5 9 and 15 and 10 and. 16 respectively in.

substantially at an angle of 45 to-theline drawn between-the axes of the cam sand the uide rollers 25,- respectively. The member also carries stationary pins 22 and 23 upon which are loosely mounted rollers 24 and 25, respectively.

In operation the cam faces 4 and 5, as the shaft 2 rotates, are adapted to engage the rollers 24 and 25 and cause them to move up along the guides 18 and 19 to engage the upper ends 26 and 27 respectively, of the levers 13 and 14 to cause the levers to rock about their pivots and separate the contacts Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

1913. Serial No. 773,011.

words, the parts are so arranged that the 3 direction of movement of the roller is sub- 1 stantially at right angles to the arm of the lever which the roller engages, or substan- '1 tia lly parallel to the movement 'of that part of the lever member which the roller.engages. In this manner the velocity of that part of the lever member which the roller engages, is substantially as great if not greater, than the velocity of the roller en gaging the same. The distance between the contacts and the fulcrum of the levers is substantially equal to the distance between the point of engagement of the rollers with the levers and the fulcrum, so that long arms are avoided and the parts may be made small and light so as to have a minimum of inertia.

By the above arrangement a quickerbreak of the circuit between the contacts is obtained, whereby less arcing at the contacts and a hotter spark are produced, and still the moving parts have a minimum of inertia. Moreover, the arrangement shown and described forms a simple device. in which two sets of interrupting contacts are provided, both operated from the same cam, whereby if one set fails the other set may be used, or the sets may be used for direct currents or alternating currents, respectively.

Although I have described my improvements in great detail and with respect tonormally closed, a lever fulcrumed interw mediate its ends,-the movable contact being carried on one end of said lever, a roller ada ted to engage the other end of the lever, 110 v I ma l i the surface of the guide tacts, two members, one

a guide along which the roller is adapted to roll, and a cam engaging said roller to cause it to move thelever to separate the contacts.

2. The combination of the stationary guide 18, the roller 24, the lever 13, the contacts 9 and 15, one carried by the lever 13, and the cam 3 for operating the roller along to cause separation of the contacts, a line drawn between the center of the roller and the fulcrum of the lever passing substantially through the tangent point between the guide surface and the roller.

3. The combination of two contacts, a lever adapted to separate said contacts, a

guide, a roller, and a cam adapted to engage the roller and operate it along the guide to engage and move the lever to separate the contacts, the direction of,movem ent"of the roller bein substantially atright angles to the arm 0 the lever which the roller engages. 1

4. The combination of two contacts, a member for separating said contacts, a guide, .a roller and a cam adapted to engage the roller and move it along the guide to enge the member and separate the contacts, the direction of movement ofthegroller being substantially parallel to the movement of the member; V

5. The combination of two sets of contacts, two members, one for separating each setof contacts, two rollers, a guide for each roller, and a cam operatingboth of said rollers to'move them along the guides to move the members to separate the contacts.

6. The'combination of two sets of confor separating each set of contacts, two rollers, a guide for each roller, and a cam operating said rollers to move them along the guides to move the members to separate the contacts, the direction of movement of the rollers being substantially parallel to the movement of the members at the respective points of engagement with the rollers.

7. The combination of two sets of contact's, two members, one for separating each set of contacts, two rollers, a guide for each roller, and means 0 rating said rollers to move them along t members to separate the contacts, the direction of movement of the rollers being substantially parallel to the movement of the members at the respective points of engagement with the rollers.

e guides to move the- 8. The combination of two contact-carrying lever members, springs operating on said lever members to maintain the lever members in normal position, a roller for moving each lev'er member, a guide for each roller, and a single cam for engaging said rollers to move them along the guides and move the lever members, the direction of movement of the rollers being substantially parallel to the movement of the members at the respective points of engagement with the rollers.

9. The combination of two contact-carrying lever members, two relatively fixed contacts cooperating respectively with the contact-carrying lever members, springs operating on said lever members to maintain the lever members in position with the respective contacts closed, a roller for moving each lever member, a guide for each roller, and means for engaging said rollers to move them along the guides and move the lever members. r

10. The combination of two contacts, a pivoted member carrying one contact, a roller adapted to engage said member to separate the contacts, a cam operating upon said .roller t0, move the same, and a guide having a guiding surface at an angle to a line drawn between the axes of the cam and roller, the direction of movement of the roller being substantially parallel to the direction of movement of that part of the piv' oted member engaged by the roller.

11. The comblnation of two contacts, a pivoted member carrying one contact, a roller adapted to engage said member to separate the contacts, a cam operating upon said roller to move the same, and a guide having a guiding surface at an angle to a line drawn between the axes of the cam and roller, the direction of movement of the roller being substantially parallel to the direction of movement of that part of the pivoted member engaged by the roller, and the contacts being at substantially the same distance from the pivot point of the member as is the point of engagement of the roller with said member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my I name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. CARL HARTMANN.

Witnemes: 1

W. H. Pamxnnx, J. Ammnson. 

